Since last week the stupid temperature's been yoyoing between 33 and 37 degrees here. I know I live in the tropics but damn, it's making me sick!

Clothing has become my greatest enemy and ice has become my favourite food. I don't even want
to leave my house with the comfort of my fans for the stupid heated outdoors.

It's still, it's hot and it's very dry. Today it rained and cooled the place down to 33.5 which felt really good after the temperature yesterday being around 35 degrees and very, very, dry. This must be what it feel like to live in a desert.

The best thing about it, is that I have an excuse to take 3 or 4 showers everyday. I know that's not environmentally friendly, but hey...I do less harm than a lot of people.

I miss the beautiful heavy rainfall, the type of rain that falls hard for hours and makes my whole country slow down for a while. I miss the kind of rain that makes some people feel cold. I dispise this pitiful excuse for rainfall that lasts for five minutes and dries off the ground in five minutes once the sun comes back out.

I suppose it's probably better without the heavy rain, I mean...this country floods in no time at all.

Found this webpage on the effects a 2 or 3 degree rise will have on the world. They forgot to say that weaklings such as myself who once passed out on her school field becuase of the heat will drop dead! Well...at least that's how I've been feeling for the past few weeks anyway.

Live Earth: What a Difference One Degree Makes : http://liveearth.uk.msn.com/green/articles/one_degree.aspx?imageindex=1

I'd love to take a vacation to...Iceland. The sound of the name alone is music to my hot ears...ICEland. I won't do that though...don't have any family there, I'd be all alone. Cooler...but all alone in a country I know nothing about.

I suppose I will just stay here and cook in my own sweat.

"They say good things come to those who wait, but it's life that goes so fast."
It's a pleasure to be a part of this program.
Vanessa.

Good Things
Translated into Spanish by: waheeda ali

At the beginning of my exams I was so stressed out. I just wanted them to finish. Now that I only have another week to go Ive realised that I have no idea what to do with my life after.

I was planning on leaving my school and going to a provate school and studying just math and physics and learning some programming languages, but now I'm not so sure if that's really what I want to do. So Now I'm spending two more years...at my messed up school and studying human biology, chemistry, physics and math, and learning programming somewhere else.

I'd like to become either a computer engineer, programmer, or some kind of doctor. I'm not sure which.

I wish God would just speak to me and tell me what to do.

Exams are painfull. They're damaging me. They're destroying my mind and all the things that once made me a happy carefree simple person. Now My life is filled with anxiety, nervousness and oversensitivity. I'm just not me.
I want them to end. I want them to go away. I wish I had defied the teachers since they lead me the wrong way. They lead me to do subjects that only had me going to after school classes because there were not teachers in school. They made me become a teacher because some of the teachers I do have don't even show up to class.
I hate being my own teacher. But I'm a lot better than they are because I at least know what I'm doing.

In my country you can hear Christmas carols playing as early as November. You hear them on televison advertisements. Down town suddenly starts getting busier and busier with each passing week until December when it's hard to walk down the sidewalks.
People generally "Break up house" I think that's what they call it. I never took part in it so I never did care what it's called. It's when they polish their houses from top to bottom. I have to do this every week since lots of things make me ill, so I don't do any kind of "Christmas Cleaning" When the house is cleaned it gets new curtains and carpets and decirations and appliances.

Now this is the part that really gets me angry. People who cannot afford it go and buy things for their houses on hire purchase and use it over Christmas because a certain store has this offer every year where you pay nothing down until the next year. So they but appliances they cannot pay for. They will buy from other places too of course. Then they buy so much food and a whole lot of presents for people they don't even like and go out shopping for things for the house like artificial flowers and ornaments and they finish their money on such unnecessary things when they know that the next paycheck is not until the end of January for those who are paid monthly. Children get hungry, parents get angry and business is bad during January because these people are broke.

Nothing sickens me at Christmas like the way people waste. Families cook so much food. A small family will probably cook enough to feed a street. They don't finish their food and end up throughing it all away. Why is it in a world with so much poor people, that the rich and middle classed have to be throughing food away. Why is it that some parents allow their little children to stuff theselves to death while some parents have to watch their babies starve? I think it's evil.

We do have some wonderful traditions here though. We have masquerade bands on the roads dancing and playing flutes in bright colourful costumes. Families cook some of the best food in the world. Many people spend Christmas in church, which is usually a good place. We have stretched out magazine where the media mocks the politicians, and everything they've done for the year. Families start to talk to each other at least for a bit, and I don't know about anyone else really but I appreciate any moment I can spend with my family.

Today I did what I always do on Christmas, cook, eat, deliver presents to the kids next door. Tomorrow I get to go see my beloved uncle and his family. And in just over a minute I hope to be asleep.

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year to you.
Thank you for reading my post.

I'm having a really happy weekend. It's really happy because I'm spending it with people. I've been calling my family, and talking to friends. Today a friend of mine and I went out to the Botanical Gardens for a walk and we met some people there, just by chance actually. They were there playing some sports then they came over to the table where my friend and I were sitting and started playing dominoes.
We watched couples together at the gardens and we wtched people going to take pictures at their weddings. We saw small weddings and big ones, seven weddings in all and eleven couples. Then I went to church and learned to play Shout to The Lord on the steel pan.

The happiest times in my life are when I'm with the people I love and care about. All my troubles just seem to fly away when I'm with nice people. I even got friendlier over the weekend. It's amazing what a little rest and relaxation will do.

The elections in my country is set for August 28th.
Recently in the Newspaper, GECOM ( Guyana Elections Comminssion)has been asking for volunteers to "observe the elections." What they, mean...when you read through the details, is that they would like people from different communities to be on the watch for any violence and notify them when it starts.
We always have violence around elections time. I'm old enough to only remeber two. In both of them, there was looting, people setting fires, lots of protesting againt something or the other, people didn't want to get out of their houses because of what was going on in the streets and lots of shops and most market stalls were closed.
I was told it was more chaotic in the 1960's.
My country has six races and lots and lots of mixed people. Around elections though the Africans and Indians tend to separate. It's really very sad.
It's told that a lot of people, especially Indians vote racially. I once saw on a television program, and Indian lady complaining about the government and how they're no good, they're currupt, they mae promises that they don't keep, the country's going backward....
So the man interviewing her asked why he still wants to vote for them, she said "I don't want no black man run we"
There's a new party whose motto is "Vote Change not Race"
Good luck to them.

Personally I believe that our county needs to get rid of he two major parties. People complain about life under the governanace of both so it's proof that neither are all that good, and most of the violence which goes on during election time is because of one party's supporters wanting to hurt the others.

Thn there's the violnce after the election when supporters of the loosing parties start to riot and protest and loot and shoot...

Still I Rise

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

I never understand why people say “Life is short” What does it mean? Does anyone take more time doing anything but living?
I go to high school, so the most common philosophy is “Life sucks.” But I’ve come to realize that when you keep telling yourself that life suck all the time…your life will suck. I believe that people make their lives hard and stressful. I mean, there are so many things that we cannot change but still worry about all the time.
Worry kills.
Seriously!
Self hatred kills too.
I go to a church with a lot of old people. They’re always complaining abut how they’re getting older. I don’t know if they’ve realized this, but it’s bound to happen. From the moment you are born you begin to age.

Why do people so often lose sleep over things they cannot change? I know a few people, who are always thinking about people they cannot get. I mean, you can’t help who you like, but you shouldn’t go running after them if they’re not interested in you. There are so many people in this world. There will b someone else, just as soon as you stop stressing over something you cannot change.

No one can change the past, yet so many of us worry about what happened before. Our past holds us back. All the “should not haves” and “I wish I didn’t” or “I could have…would have” doesn’t change what happened. Why can’t people just move on?

School closed last friday and I've been watching tv everyday since last tuesday. What do I keep seeing? "The Party starts tomorrow Good friday! Hits and Jams Party! Come down to Club Avalanche For the Two day Party this Easter Sunday and Monday! Easter blowout sale! Look your best this Easter! Keeping you Stylish this Easter!"
So I'm sitting wondering when Eater became some jump-up party down holiday, which was just another excuse to not have to go to work.
My people love to commerialise everything. And we love to make profit from everything. I mean, just a few years ago there was that boring ritual of kids flying kites. There are usually lots of kites selling all over around this time of year. I haven't seem very much this year. It seems like they were replaced by clothes. So many places are advertising all the discounts they have this Easter. Commercials telling people that these stores are here to help you look "good" for easter...but of course you have to pay them first.
Whatever happened to church? I mean, once upon a time people celebrated things like Christmas and Easter in church. Since when do we celebrate the birth, death and resurection of our saviour dancing to Beenie and Elephant man and the likes. Not that I go to church, but at least I don't be calling myself no Christian. I believe in God and Jesus Christ, I also believe that religious holidays...all religious holidays should be sacred.
Why is Yuman Nabi so quiet andpeaceful, is there just more respect for Islam than Christianity here?
I cannot say that I am not guilty of all this. Last year my school held it's first PTA Christmas concert where I helped to Capitalise on our Lord's Holiday. I danced and modeled. I was just happy to finally get a chance to learn how to wacky dip, do sesame street and some other dancehall moves. I'm clearly part of the problem, but I like to say that I am a victim of my surroundings.
Needless to say, Christmas here is just as bad. I will never understand why Guyanese people get so Christmas crazy. They spend thousands of dollars christmas time on presents, and redoing there house and cooking way too much traditional food, drinking lots of alcohol. Everyone must eat, and everyone's drinks, adults and children.
I'm not very religious, I like to learn a much as I can about evry religion which believes in a God and live according to almost all of their principles. Even though I'm not very religious, I know this is not how theses holidays were meant to be celebrated. Where's the religion, and the sacredness? Aren't these supposed to be holy days?

Thanks for the ecard y'all. It was really really kool. Well my bday wasn't very eventfully except for the best wishes i got from the folks that matter (like u guys). I spent all night up last night preparing and 4 1/2hrs in examination for my London and Caribbean Advance Adwards. Got home until 9pm and guess what.....they almost didn't have any dinner left for me. lol

But it was all kool

YESGUYANA officially launched its Network on august 12th, 2004. Featured was the Cutting of the ribbon by Mrs. Hilda Cox-Bullen Patron of Volunteer YOuth Corps. The main address was delivered by Dr. Edward Greene Assistant Secretary General of the Social and Human Development dept of Caricom.

GuyberNet was indeed thrilled to once again co-ordinate the International Coastal Cleanup here in Guyana. Members of the organization jumped at this task upon hearing that the activity was a data collection one. This data is used to ascertain the type and sources of coastal debris. The high level of enthusiasm and interest in the International Coastal Cleanup lent itself to the co-ordinating process.

A Co-ordinating committee was put in place. It was determined that such resources as gloves, bags, antibacterial soap and perhaps snacks for the volunteers would be necessary. Secondarily, in an effort to encourage participation, trophies for the groups with the largest number of volunteers and certificates for all participants were considered. Letters were sent to business establishments requesting their support in acquiring these resources. Responses were good and saw the supplying of a number of garbage bags, more that three hundred pairs of gloves, antibacterial soap, bottled water and packets of vanilla cookies for participants. Tents and tables and chairs for registration were also made available. From contributions received we were able to secure trophies for the group with the largest number of volunteers and the group with the second largest. The monetary contributions received did not permit the awarding of certificates to every participant but to every group that participated.

GuyberNet enjoys useful associations and networking with a number of youth or community based service groups and governmental and non-governmental organisations. Letters were sent to this organisations inviting there support. This association was useful in amassing a volunteer force. Besides the provision of volunteers we also benefited from a useful partnership with the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO). PAHO had been co-ordinating their ‘Cleanliness and Citizenship Day’ activities for the same day as ICC, the 20th September and was also involved in a Solid Waste Sectoral Analysis program. This partnership resulted in GuyberNet being able to play a greater role in taking the data collected at the ICC to the public.

Since data collection was the primary aim of the exercise, a training session was conducted to impart to participants the importance of the data cards. Each group that was expected to volunteer on the day was asked to send a representative. Those present at the training session where taught the proper way to fill the cards in the hope that they will in turn transmit this to the other volunteers. This year GuyberNet paid more emphasis on the reporting aspect of the exercise. As is reflected in the report, a larger number of debris items were recorded. This was due in part to the benefit of the visit of Mr. Trevor L. Benn to Virginia to participate in the ICC Conference. He provided valuable insight into the importance of data collection, an area that was not properly adhered to last year in the exuberance of getting the trash together.

GuyberNet is grateful for the support we received in co-ordinating this activity successfully. The disposal of the debris after it was picked up and accounted for was made possible by private firms. These firms volunteered their services through the Mayor and City Councillors.

ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION, ONE DESTINY...

The design consists of an Amerindian head-dress symbolizing the indigenous people of the country, two diamonds at the sides of the head-dress representing mining industry, a helmet (monarchial insignia), two jaguars holding a pick axe, sugar cane and a stalk of rice (symbolizing Guyana's sugar and rice industries), a shield decorated with the National Flower (Victoria Regia Lily), three blue wavy lines representing the waters of Guyana and the National Bird (Canje Pheasant).

Dear land of Guyana, of rivers and plains, Made rich by the sunshine, and lush by the rains. Set gem-like and fair, between mountains and sea, Your children salute you, dear land of the free.

Green land of Guyana, our heroes of yore, Both bondsmen and free, laid their bones on your shore. This soil so they hallowed, and from them are we, All sons of one mother, Guyana the free.

Great land of Guyana, diverse though our strains, We are born of their sacrifice, heirs of their pains. And ours is the glory their eyes did not see, One land of six peoples, united and free.

Dear land of Guyana, to you will we give, Our homage, our service, each day that we live. God guard you, Great Mother, and make us to be More worthy our heritage, land of the free.